How to evaluate a used, disassembled table

krupa

krupa

The Dream Operator
Silver Member
I have a hard time believing that this is a legit Craigslist ad (only $450?) but it raises the question, What do you need to look for/at when evaluating a table that's disassembled and "in storage"?

Should I just find a mechanic in the area and bring him along with me? I'm not going to look at this one, much to my sadness; it just won't fit anywhere in my house.

Thanks
-matthew
 
Checking a broken down table in storage.

First off you need to check each piece of slate for large cracks. Small chips along the edges arnt anything to be worried about. Second look at the legs for water damage from a flood. Look at and count all 6 rails. Next feel the rubber, it should have some life to it. If it feels hard they will need to be replaced which can cost about $250.00.Check for hardware pockets and legs Typically a move to storage we only take off the legs & leave the frame mostly together. If the cabinet is completely broken down, be careful because it will be easy to overlook critical missing parts. If it is a commercial style table with a complicated 1 peice top, that has been taken apart it might be worth it to have a professional come out and check for everything and do the move as you are buying it. . Robertson Billiards has been selling & servicing new and used tables in Tampa since 1930, we love what we do & i hope this was helpful. :thumbup:
 
I'm no mechanic but I've been doing a lot of used table shopping, and can give my opinion. That's an AMF grand prix, and for $450 you're not likely to find a better quality table at that price range too often considering the quality of that is equal to a gold crown.
It could be georgous if you wanted to strip and sand it and stain and polish everything, but that's a lot of work. It is hardwood under that paint though, and the castings can be sanded and polished up if they're scratched or ugly but that's all time consuming and a lot of work. Slates can be fixed if they're half decent, I think those are pinned like a gc so be careful, take it apart the right way assuming they are pinned.


If that's the best deal you can find and you like the looks I'd probably buy it even if it needed some work. But it's up to you, there are plenty of good deals around if you keep your eye's open and wait patiently for them. I just bought my beater gold crown 1 cheap and spent the last month fixing it, then this pops up:
http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/spo/2560591410.html

hmmm Doesn't get better than that for $200...

I don't know what model that is but it looks like a brunswick frame and it's driving distance from me, I'm sure tempted...

Any of these quality tables can be refinished repaired and polished up and made to look like new, given enough work and patience and money for new cloth and pockets and whatever else you need to do the job. If it needs rubber and simonis and new pockets and a mechanic too then you're going to be in the over $1000 range easily, not counting your time refinishing it so might not end up being the best deal in town. You can use the above to bargain the price down if it needs more than the seller realized. You can always leave an offer for less and tell them to call you if they can't get their asking price.
 
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Thanks for the replies.

From the pictures I'm assuming that that table is 9' and without some home remodeling (that I'm in no position to undertake), I can't get a 9 footer in my house. I have semi-regular access to 9' tables so a 7' would do well to scratch the itch when I can't get to the big boys.

I'm noticing that people on Craigslist say they have tables in storage which prompted the original question.
 
Yep that's a full on 9' table. I think all the super deals and tables in storage are related to people loosing their homes or just walking away from underwater mortgages or being forced to downsize from renting homes to just apartments. Makes for a bunch of good deals, but like anything else you'll have to consider all the extra's you might not see off the bat cost wise.

A good deal on a 7 or 8 foot table is actually easier to find, much more common, but then you'll be choosing between bar boxes or home build quality tables, most will be less well built than the pro table you were looking at with the amf. Look for the beefiest frame from a good brand like brunswick etc, and keep in mind a one piece slate will be a lot tougher to move initially and to store should you end up in the same position as the last owners.
 
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Actually, in my neck of the woods, there aren't a helluva lot of ANY tables on Craigslist. Most are Sears tables or ancient, beat-up barboxes. I'm not opposed to a barbox, though I have no idea how to get it in my basement. Gravity would help but I fear it would do all the work. :smile:

I'm keeping an eye on CL, but also considering a new table as well. There is a Brunswick dealer down the road, and an Olhausen dealer not far away.
 
Most bar boxes seem to be 1 piece slate, not the best thing to pack into a basement. I hear you on the garbage tables though, department store particle board junk with wood tops seem common all over. Makes searching for real tables hard here.

It's too bad you don't have the room for a 9 or can't make room. I've seen gold crowns from closed pool halls in the NY area for not too much money on ebay, I think there's still a couple up there now. Much less than you'd spend for a half decent new 7' and actually a lot easier to move with 3 piece slate vs a one piece slate bar box.

I guess I'm luckier than you, in my area there's tons of tables of all kinds for sale on cl.
 
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